Camden’s Gregg gets good spot at Iowa Speedway

He’s set to be spotter for IndyCar driver. While being above speedway fun, he says he’d rather be racing.


Schedule

KIL-KARE SPEEDWAY

Today: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late models, modifieds, street stocks, compacts. Gates open at 6 p.m., racing at 8.

EDGEWATER SPORTS PARK

Today: Triple Tens Plus; NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 7 a.m., timed runs at 9, first round at noon.

Saturday: Triple Tens Plus; NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., timed run at 9, followed by first round.

Sunday: Triple Tens Plus; NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., timed run at 9:30, followed by first round.

SHADYBOWL SPEEDWAY

Saturday: DARF Night; Late models, modifieds, street stocks, tuners, compacts, dwarfs. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 7.

WAYNESFIELD RACEWAY PARK

Saturday: Ohio Sprint Speedweek; All-Star Circuit of Champions sprints, mini sprints. Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6, racing at 7.

KIL-KARE DRAGWAY

Saturday: NHRA Jr. Dragster Challenge; NHRA-sanctioned racing; demolition derby on speedway. Gates open at 10 a.m., time trials at 12:30 p.m.

WINCHESTER SPEEDWAY

Saturday: ARCA Trucks, CRA Super Series. Gates open at 8 a.m., practice at 11:30, truck race at 6 p.m., Super Series at 7.

Sunday: ARCA Series. Gates open at 9 a.m., racing at 2 p.m.

TRI-STATE DRAGWAY

Sunday: JEGS Jr.; NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., eliminations at 1 p.m.

It’s not the seat he’d prefer, but Camden’s Travis Gregg will have one of the best views when the Iowa Corn Indy 250 takes the green flag Saturday night.

Gregg will be perched above Iowa Speedway as the spotter for IndyCar Series rookie Josef Newgarden, who drives the No. 67 for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

“You would always rather be driving the car yourself but spotting is probably the next best thing,” Gregg said. “It’s pretty exciting to watch the sport from a totally different perspective.”

Gregg had success in the Indy Lights series, winning three races in 2005 and claiming seven poles with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. But his driving career stalled from lack of sponsorship. Gregg said he continued working with Schmidt and helping his drivers and spotted for Newgarden — who won the Indy Lights title for Schmidt in 2011 — at Las Vegas last year.

This season he’s serving as Newgarden’s spotter in all the IndyCar oval races.

“Travis is really good. He’s a great spotter and he’s comforting in my ear,” Newgarden said. “I worked with him last year in Lights, so it’s great to have him on the IndyCar program. He says the right things and makes me feel comfortable in the car.”

Newgarden enters the race 23rd in points and second in rookie points behind Simon Pagenaud.

ARCA Series takes on Winchester

Winchester Speedway hosts ARCA 200 Weekend with a two-day show Saturday and Sunday. The ARCA Trucks and CRA Super Series run Saturday with the ARCA stocks Sunday.

Among the entrants, Beavercreek’s Brandon Oakley will drive for car owner Ron Wells in the truck series.

The track is coming off a record-breaking visit from the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series. California driver Jo Jo Helberg set a world record for a half-mile speedway when he turned a lap in 12.669 seconds, about 142 mph.

Hot laps

• Kil-Kare Speedway hosts Fan Appreciation Night tonight with free popcorn and $1 hot dogs. The first 500 fans also receive a free racing T-shirt. Fans will also be allowed to sign the start-finish line during the evening.

• Ohio Sprint Speedweek — featuring the All-Star Circuit of Champions — kicks off its 30th event tonight at Attica Raceway Park. Nine straight nights of racing across the state continues Saturday at Waynesfield Raceway Park. Each race pays $5,000 to win, except for the finale which pays $10,000. Tim Shaffer won last year’s title. For the complete schedule visit: ascoc.allstarsprint.com.

• Edgewater Sports Park hosts the Triple Tens Plus, a three-day racing event. For more info, visit: edgewaterrace.com.

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